Collection number: UA 2/1/2
Size: 1 box
(0.20 cu.ft.)
About William D. Gibbs, 1869-1944
William Gibbs was born in Winchester, Illinois in 1869. He received his BS and MS degrees from the Agricultural College of the University of Illinois. He then worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and later taught at Ohio State. In 1902, he became a professor of agriculture at NHC, then left for a professorship at Texas A & M. He was chosen in 1903 to return to NHC and become its second president.
Although his training was strictly agriculture, he shared former President Murkland's vision of a broad curriculum, espousing the benefits of a college education for all young people, both men and women. Gibbs advocated a curriculum that was one-third culture studies, one-third pure science, and one-third vocational studies. In addition, he favored the establishment of a department of domestic science for young women. During his tenure, the college was reorganized into three divisions: Agricultural, Engineering, and Arts and Sciences. He also nearly tripled the student body size to 315, while the number of courses more than doubled. The library's book collection increased, and the number of buildings on campus totalled 15 by the end of his tenure. President Gibbs officially resigned on Sept. 1, 1912.
About the William D. Gibbs Papers (1907-1912)
Inactive files that were once stored in the attic of Thompson Hall were ruined when a leak in the roof went undetected. Many of the earliest presidents' papers were amoung them. What remains of President Gibb's papers are a few pieces of correspondence and some materials on the student strike of 1912.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
This collection is open.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the University of New Hampshire.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], [Folder], [Box], William D. Gibbs Papers, 1907-1912, UA 2/1/2, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.
Acquisitions Information
These records were transferred to the University Library for storage prior to the establishment of the University Archives in 1992.
Related Material
Student Strike Scrapbook, 1912, UA 17/8
Collection Arrangement
Chronological.
Collection Contents
| Box 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 1, Folder 1 | 1907 | Correspondence, Will of Mrs. Alice Hamilton Smith |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | 1911 | Correspondence |
| Box 1, Folder 3 | 1911 | Davis Park |
| Box 1, Folder 4 | 1912 | Correspondence |
| Box 1, Folder 5 | 1912 | Correspondence, Adm. R.E. Peary |
| Box 1, Folder 6 | 1912 | Student Strike |
